Work Text:
The letter sat on the table as Harrie stared at it, her eyes occasionally glancing at the envelope with writing that she didn’t recognize. Along with it was a note from the goblins at Gringotts back in England, a note that she had opened as usual.
Dear Lady Potter,
We have done some digging around lately as you requested and indeed found something. Your parents did have a will but it was not made known to us until now. It was buried under piles of other wills in one of the offices at the Ministry and withheld.
Harrie had grinned at the pause there, trying to picture the threats that the goblins had made to whichever poor witch or wizard had been on the receiving end. She ran a hand through her hair and glanced out of the window, idly watching as cars went by before turning back to the note from the goblins.
The will held the expected information as well as a marriage contract. We know that may come as a surprise to you but it is true.
Her stomach roiled at the thought, her thoughts blanking at the very sentence. At the two little words that seemed to taunt her on the page.
You are not contracted to marry a witch or wizard, if that pleases you, but to a member of the Wesen community. If you will contact the local branch of Gringotts at your current location, they will get in touch with the other party. Your parents describe matters in the letter they left you and we have a letter from the Wesen that your parents talked to.
Harrie blinked, trying to remember that word. Wesen. She’d heard it somewhere and then forgotten about it. She blinked as recognition kicked in, remembering the chapter in one of the history books.
Wesen. Part human, part animal. Enemies of the wizarding community. Wesen and wixen had been enemies for centuries, even before America had become America. It had been a part of why the wixen community had withdrawn even further behind their walls, dropping down magical barriers so tight around their cities that no one could find them.
The goblins had stayed however, ignoring the very decisions of the wixen as always, staying neutral. Harrie had appreciated it and they had hidden her own decisions along the way too.
The other party is a prince of one of the royal houses of Austria. Prince Sean Renard. If you approve, we will write to him and let him know of your situation. But only if you are interested. You are one of our best clients so we will defer to you.
The wixen community does not need to know what you wish as well. Before they chose to erect barriers, both magical and physical, they were at odds with you. They also were at odds with the Wesen community. You can ask the man you are betrothed to for more information.
“Potter?”
Harrie stood up from her chair and walked over to the counter to grab her hot chocolate. She smiled in thanks at the barista and then walked back to her seat, settling in, her stomach full of nerves. She’d dressed comfortably enough today, a scarf around her neck, Gryffindor red, a dark blue, long sleeved shirt with no design on it, and pants, ending in comfortable boots. Comfortable but on the formal side of dress.
The letter we have included is from the mother of the prince. It had been attached with your parents' will, lost until we made inquiries. She allegedly knew your father but we have not opened her letter.
The contract was made by a Potter of old and one of the earlier kings of Austria. A Potter and one of the royal children.
As always, we appreciate your business.
Harrie sighed and took a sip of her drink, relaxing her shoulders. Glanced out through the window of the coffee shop and out into Portland, Oregon. The hot chocolate wasn’t as good as hers but it was still yummy. Still made her relax enough so that a few of the nerves in her body eased up. Made her remember eating a few bites of the chocolate bar that Remus had given her on the train back in third year.
She slowly reached out for the letter that the goblins had said was from Renard’s mother, slowly sliding it open.
Dear Miss Potter,
You do not know me and I do not know you. I only know of your father and that he and your mother had gone into hiding. I know you have no reason to trust me or my son. The wixen community and Wesen have held grudges for most of history, resulting in so much bad blood.
I cannot go into detail right now but we are in America right now. You would need to come live here. My son can tell you more but for right now, I cannot talk to you in person. He knows everything that you would ask.
A union of wesen and wixen would do more for the world than you can know. The goblins told me of what you have done, of what happened to the wixen world, and now…
Harrie scowled at the words, more for the reminder that now she knew that the Wesen community knew who she was too, and started to read again.
My son is a good man and he may not seem like it but I believe he would make a good match for you. Please. Give it some thought.
Regards,
Elizabeth Lascelles
Harrie paused and looked down at the signature on the letter, arching an eyebrow. Lascelles. It was a different last name than her son. Harrie tilted her head in thought and then sighed, feeling more weary than ever. She’d left the wizarding world completely one year ago and had moved to America, not exactly hiding but not exactly broadcasting her location either.
And then this happened. She’d received the first letter from the goblins two months ago. And then she talked back and forth with them before finally making a decision.
She was 37 years old and wasn’t with anyone. Fred had died before they had done anything and that had made her reluctant to pursue a relationship with anyone. Harrie wasn’t aging-- a fact she realized two years ago-- so she had cut her ties efficiently and quickly, keeping to herself mostly. Not to mention that everyone knew who she was and what she had done. She rolled her shoulders and leaned further back in her chair, glancing at the newspaper next to the letters on the table.
The headlines were the usual news for a city of about half a million people. Some of them were reports on crimes, some on business while some were on the start of the school year.
Harrie herself was firmly done with the hero business, done with that whole thing. The wizarding world had taken her in, chewed her up and spat her back out, without any rational logic behind it. She had been more glad than ever about leaving when she had checked in with the goblins about Britain three months ago.
She was done with fighting and done with being the one to spearhead any effort to change things. A mere five months after she had defeated Voldemort, three lords had cast the Dark Mark over a muggle town and then vanished. The whole Auror department had looked at her pleadingly that afternoon, even though she had been just 18 at the time. She had liked to think they had earned her loyalty but in reality… they hadn’t.
She took another sip of her drink, wrapping her fingers around the paper cup, and lay her arms down on the table, propping her head up. A few strands of her black hair fell across her face and she let them be, too lazy to brush them off. She’d grown out of letting some hair cover her scar several years ago, too tired to care. She’d grown out of being too pissed off at the world in general.
Someone cleared their throat next to her an indeterminate amount of time later, making her jump, nearly falling off the chair. She startled as the chair rocked, nearly unstable. But a firm hand caught her shoulder and held her, causing goosebumps to roll up her arms.
As soon as she got the chair settled, got herself settled, she looked up and up, blinking once or twice at the man who had caught her. He slowly withdrew his hand, his fingers flexing as he dropped his arm to his side. Harrie swallowed and slowly stood up, her gaze still on the stranger in front of her. The stranger who pretty much fit the tall, dark, and handsome bill, dressed in a suit and tie for work, she assumed. The suit fit him well, in cool solid colors, and ending in comfortable but formal shoes. A coat curled itself around his body, adding a little extra flair.
A gun rested at his hip and a badge completed the outfit.
Her gaze finally moved up to his face, sucking in a breath at the sight of him. Short cropped dark hair, dark green eyes that looked at her intently. Curiously.
He looked like a prince and that made her heart skip a few beats, realizing who he was. Or at least who he might be.
She tentatively held out her hand, feeling that knot in her chest tighten anxiously.
He reached out and entwined their hands, arching an eyebrow. “Lady Potter, I assume?”
Harrie nodded, opened her mouth to ask the same before reconsidering. Pondering his mother’s words and letter. Pondering the short few words that he had sent her via the goblins. Deciding to go with the mundane title, instead of the royal one. “Captain Renard?”
His hand was warm and firm, steady, like the rest of him looked. Solid.
“Yes. I see you have a drink already but can I get you anything else?” Renard questioned, sparing a short glance to the drink at her table, lowering his hand from her’s. “This cafe has good sandwiches. I was going to grab one while we talk.”
Harrie paused to think for a minute then glanced at her watch. 12:15pm. She opened her mouth to answer in the negative when her stomach growled.
Renard’s mouth quirked up in what might have been amusement.
Harrie felt her cheeks redden before she nodded. “Whatever you recommend. I’m happy with anything.”
The man nodded and turned to walk over to the counter to order, giving her the opportunity to look him over from the back. He seemed to tower over everyone, walking with confidence. He received a few nods in appreciation, people thanking him for his work in protecting the city. Harrie wondered how the whole prince thing worked, wondered if his coworkers and employees knew about him. And then shook her head at the thought. They probably didn’t. She knew she wouldn’t be telling her new coworkers about herself yet, if at all.
Harrie ran a hand through her hair and sat back in her chair, her gaze turning more admiring than anything else. Captain Sean Renard was nothing like she had expected in those short minutes they’d interacted, making her wonder what he thought of her. She knew he was two years older than her but his mother hadn’t seen fit to go into detail about their story.
And it made her curious. Renard had signed his name with the mundane title. She wondered why he wasn’t in Austria with his family though it wasn’t like she had done a lot of research before arranging this meeting.
As soon as he received his coffee and the two sandwiches he’d ordered, Sean walked back over to the table Lady Potter had chosen. He paused before the table, choosing to take a minute to look her over first. She wasn’t anything he had expected in coming here. He had expected haughty and arrogant, had expected anything but the tired appearance she had given before he had cleared his throat.
She looked young but older than she had any right to be at the same time, the weight of the world on her shoulders. She looked much the same as he felt, protecting his city from any Grimms or attempts from rogue Wesen, world weary.
Sean had not met anyone from the wixen community before but if they were half as powerful as she felt… It made him believe the stories he’d heard about the wizards and witches throughout history. And she was perceptive as well, addressing him by his police rank, instead of his royal one.
Lady Harrie Potter was beautiful as well, her long dark hair loose at her back, her green eyes vivid and bright. The famous scar on her forehead faint and light in its design. He didn’t know the entire story but he knew enough. Knew that her parents died protecting her and that the former wixen dark lord Voldemort had cast the killing curse her way.
He closed the distance between the table and sat down opposite her, pushing a BLT sandwich towards her. Harrie didn’t even hide her gaze, looking at him as much as he was looking at her. Her power--the energy around her couldn’t have been anything else-- was like an ocean, surrounding her and curling around her body, radiating from her core.
The minute he had grasped her shoulder to steady her, he’d been shocked with a string of electricity. His own power reacting to her’s, making goosebumps roll up his arms and neck. It had taken a second to rein in the urge to woge, staying his hand. They hadn’t exchanged many words but he knew his appearance might… scare her.
“I must admit, I didn’t know about this arrangement until about two months ago,” Harrie commented, looking down at her plate, looking over the sandwich on wheat bread and small side salad.
“I knew about it growing up,” Sean remarked slowly, testing the waters. “Did you even know about us?”
Harrie’s eyes flashed curiously before she shook her head. “I didn’t know about the wesen community. Or at least… We weren't particularly taught about it in the history classes. The wizarding world has become very insular over the last few decades.”
“Ah.” He watched as she took a bite of the sandwich, making a soft sound of pleasure at the taste of it. He smiled faintly at her as a few strands of hair got in her face, making her nose wrinkle in annoyance. She lowered the sandwich and swept her hair back. “You must have questions.”
“I do. I just… I don’t know a lot about your community and people,” Harrie remarked, shrugging and leaning in, like she was about to impart a great secret. A little hint of mischief in her eyes. A curl of something, maybe more of a flutter, unfurled in his chest, and he leaned in as well. “I had a ghost for a history teacher, you know. He wasn’t that great.”
The laugh her words provoked was quiet and surprising. “A ghost.”
Harrie rolled her eyes in amusement. “Yeah. Hogwarts had some unusual staff while I was there. I don’t know what you know of the wizarding world but the school where I went was full of ghosts.”
Sean took a bite of his sandwich, glancing at his watch. “I don’t know much. Just the stories that wesen children were told. But it doesn’t seem ideal.”
Harrie snorted and reached out for her water glass. “No. It wasn’t. It’s… a part of why I’m teaching here now. Children deserve a good education with good teachers who don’t hate them.”
Sean felt goosebumps roll up his skin at her words, at the steel in her voice. “Speaking from experience?”
Harrie’s mouth turned up and then she nodded. “Yes.”
“Where are you teaching?” Sean questioned, picking at his own food.
“The local high school. And you’re captain of the homicide department.”
“I am. I don’t know what you know--”
Harrie held up her hands, making a hand wavy gesture. “I know absolutely nothing about your house or family. I just know the goblins were contacted by someone, either you or.”
“My mother. You were going to wed my brother,” Sean explained wearily, wondering if she had been contacted by Eric. He grimaced at her curious expression.
Harrie lifted an eyebrow. “Why do I get the feeling you don’t like him?”
“I don’t.”
Harrie made a thoughtful noise under her breath, placing her hands on the table. Sean’s gaze was drawn to the smudged scar on her left hand, on top of the skin.
“Sibling rivalry?” Harrie guessed, tilting her head.
“Something like that.”
Harrie stared at him and then nodded, apparently taking his word for it. She stayed silent for a few minutes, chewing on a bite of food. Sean did the same, glancing out of the window across from them.
“How is this going to work? I don’t really know you and you don’t really know me,” Harrie finally asked, running a hand through her hair. “This could be a trap.”
Sean huffed in amusement. “You’re only just now realizing this?”
Harrie’s eyes sparked in challenge, making Sean’s heart skip a beat. Heat trickled through him at the expression in her eyes, on her face. “Oh, no, I realized it around the time the letter and this whole contract was found. That prickle of power you felt at the door? That was me.”
The curl of warmth… of smugness that inched its way into his chest was unfamiliar, realizing that this woman was unafraid to protect herself. He had felt a prickle of something when he crossed through the door of the diner.
“Then why agree to marry me?” Sean questioned, leaning back in his chair. “You’re only two years younger than me and I suppose the prospects for marrying the Girl-Who-Lived are many.”
Harrie’s lips twisted in a grimace, her eyes darkening in a way that Sean very quickly realized he didn’t like.
“1. You’re in the same city as me. 2. I don’t give a shit about being the savior of the wizarding world. 3. I like messing with people.” She ticked off the reasons on one hand and then she let a fourth finger flicker up, tentative.
“And what’s the last reason?”
“I’m tired,” Harrie finished, meeting his eyes easily. “I want… I want a family.”
Sean inhaled sharply, swallowing at her words. “What if I can’t protect you from mine?”
Harrie snorted, a laugh barely breaking out. “Hello. Girl-Who-Lived here. I fought a war to protect my friends and family. I’d be willing to do the same for mine.”
Sean laughed this time, feeling a little out of sorts at her blunt way of speaking but enjoying it all the same. Harrie smiled faintly, her eyes softening.
“I might also have enemies too. I don’t know. Some people in my world did not like my decision to leave Britain, to leave the wizarding world,” Harrie commented, shrugging her shoulders.
Sean reached out to lay his fingers over hers on the table, seeing her suck in a startled breath. “I’m more than capable of fighting for mine as well. Willing.”
“Deal?” Harrie offered, slowly glancing down at their hands, at the way his encompassed hers.
“Deal. We can start courting each other.”